Purse light



Dec. 12, 1950 w. H. PETERSON El'AL 2,534,179

PURSE LIGHT I Filed Sept. 25, 1947 I NVENTORS. VWLLiAM Ii PETERSON Fie.6 & B451): E.JONES THEIR A 7' Toms: r

Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES PURSE LIGHT William H. Peterson, Chicagmand Basil E. Jones, Flossmoor, Ill.

Application'september' 25, 1947, "Serial No. 776,030

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a battery-operated :lig'ht'adapted primarily for lighting the interior dfapurseor handbag or the like.

Theprincipal objector the invention is to pro-- vide a light which may be 'removably attached in the'interior of a handbagin a positi'on readily to be actuated when the bag isopened to direct light into the interior to reveal the contents.

The invention contemplates a, flash lightad'apted to be secured in the lining of a handbag or the like, and having a lens or bulb for directing light into the interior of the bag and provided with a readily actuated switch .for turning the light on when the bag is .opened, and which is automatically extinguished when the bag is closed. I

An important objectof the invention is realized in the provision of attaching means for removably securing a flash light in the interior of a handbag and which incorporates means coopcrating with the body of the flashlight to switch the light on and off in accordance with the needs 01' the operator.

More specific objectsof the invention include the provision of attachin means for a flash light having hinged connection therewith and onand-off switch .contacts engageable between the flash light and attaching member, and having spring devices for normally urging the contacts apart.

The'roregoing and other and moresp'ecific ob jects of the invention are attained'bythe mechanism and arrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a general front elevationof the flash light of this invention showing the full length of the battery casing;

Fig. 2 is a general end elevational view of the flash light;

Fig. 3 also is a general elevational view of the lower side of the light;

Fig. 4.also is a general end elevational view-of the flash light similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating the lightactuated to operative position;

Fig. 5 is a general view of a handbag in open position, and showing the application of the flash light therein; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of the operation of the flash light as applied in a handbag.

The present invention is intended to provide a convenient means of electrically lighting a handbag or the like to obviate the necessity of groping for articles contained therein when it is not otherwise possible to see the contents, and which is readily applicable and detachable for use with and transfer between a plurality of bags, and.

. ed to receive and contain a single dryceiltype of battery and having *a removable end cap 12 which maybe secured in place, if desired, toretain the batteryin position after insertion thereof through the open end of the'casing. 'The'head portion l3 of the casing, which is shown as integral therewith, is adapted to receive a bulb M which maybe threaded into the head for purposes ofremovaland renewab'ility. The'hea'd portion is so arranged and disposed as to rece'ivethe bulb M in a manner to direct-the'light "rays emanating therefrom in a general direction substantially at right angles to the axis of the battery and casing H.

The flash light is adapted for suspension from a-supporting surface to which 'it'may be remov ably attached by means of hinged bracket lb. The body casing H is provided with a generally laterally and upwardly extending lug 16 which is disposed substantiallyat the center of balance of the flashlight as awhole when equipped complete for use including battery and bulb. This lug projects between pair of complemental spaced lugs H on the bracket member [8, and a fixed hinge pin I9 is secured through the assembly'to provide a pivotal support for the light. A compression spring 26 is operatively disposed between the mounting bracket and the casing or lug H5 in position to exert pressure in a direction to cause the .flash light normally to swing outwardly, away from the b1'acket,'and this outward movement is'limited by means of a limit stop 2! formed integrally with the supportinglug, as best shown in Figs. v2 and 4. The extremity 2! of the lug l5, projecting beyond the hinge point I9, is so formed as to engage the surface of bracket I8 and thereby fix the limit of outward hinging movement of the flash light with the direction of light projection, as represented b the head 13 disposed substantially vertically. The spring 20 is illustrated as comprising a compression type coil spring; and may be retained in operative position between the parts by means of oppositely extending stud members projecting into respectively opposite ends of the spring from the bracket I 8 and from the surface on the lug is engaged by the spring.

The outwardly spaced condition of the flash light as shown in Fig. 2 represents the off position of the light, but when the casing II is moved to the position shown in Fig. 2 in engagement with the bracket 18, the electrical circuit from the battery is completed to the bulb l4, thereby causing it to light, and whereby this might be termed the operative position of the flash light. Contacts 22 and 23 are provided on the battery casing II in spaced apart relation, and a single bridging contact 24 is provided on the bracket 18. The contact on the bulb I4 is directly connected with the battery terminal at the front end thereof, while the rim of the socket containing the bulb is connected with the forward contact 23 on the casing H and the rear of the battery is connected with the rear contact 22, all by means of metal electrical circuits (not shown) and thus, when the contacts 22 and 23 are pressed into engagement with the contact 24, bridging the space therebetween and serving as an on-and-off switch, the electrical circuit is completed from the battery to light the bulb.

A fastening 25 is incorporated as an integrated part of the supporting bracket at the upper margin thereof and is such that the assembly may be removably secured to the supporting surface.

The flash light assembly as shown is ideally suited for application to a handbag and for use interchangeably between a number of such bags, and as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, provides a light readily adapted to such use and conveniently actuated for normal operation. As seen in Fig. 5, the light is secured to the lining 25 of a handbag 21 in a position to direct the light rays therefrom into the bag and substantially over the entire contents thereof, and such that it may be conveniently grasped for operation in the same act of supporting the open bag in one hand while searching the contents with the other hand. As indicated in Fig. 6, the mere act of grasping the upper part of the bag and the flash light is sufficient to close the switch. comprised. of contacts 22, 23 and 24, and thus energize the light. When the flash light is released, the light goes out automatically with the separation of the contacts whereby to preclude any possibility of the light being left on while the bag is closed and thus prevents accidental discharge of the battery, and assures operativeness of the light for the full life of the battery.

What is claimed is:

1. A switch arrangement fora purse light comprising an attaching bracket associated with the light and including means comprising the sole support of said light in a purse or the like, said light including a casing containing a battery and having a light bulb connected with the battery, an electrical contact on said bracket normally independent of any engagement with the casing, and a pair of spaced electrical contacts exposed on said casing in opposed relation to said contact on the bracket and completing the circuit from said battery to the light bulb upon operative engagement of all of the contacts.

2. A purse light including a battery casing containing a battery and having a light bulb connected with the battery, electrical contact members exposed on said casing in spaced apart relation, an attaching bracket associated with said casing and including means comprising the sole support of said light in a purse or the like, said casing being movable relatively toward and away from said bracket and normally having a space therebetween, and electrical contact means exposed on said bracket in opposed relation to said contacts on the casing operatively bridging said contacts on the casing to close the circuit from the battery to said light bulb when the casing is moved toward said bracket to close said space therebetween.

3. A purse light including a body assembly including a battery, a light bulb and spaced apart contact members in circuit with the bulb and battery, said contact members being exposed on said body assembly, and a separate relatively immovable electrical contact bridging said members, said body assembly being bodily movable toward said separate contact to effect said bridging of the spaced contact members.

4. In an illuminating device for a handbag or the like comprising a battery operated flashlight including a battery casing containing a battery and having a light bulb connected with the battery, a normally open switch device controlling the circuit between said battery and the bulb including a bracket, said casing being hingedly connected with the bracket and said bracket including means comprising the sole support of said illuminating device in the handbag, electrical contact means completing the circuit between said battery and the bulb comprising spaced apart contact members exposed on said casing in opposing relation to said bracket and bridging contact means on the bracket operatively closing the circuit across said contact members, and spring means operative between said bracket and the casing normally maintaining said contact membersand bridging contact means in spaced relation.

WILLIAM H. PETERSON. BASIL E. JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,183,268 Baldwin et al May 16, 1916 1,739,316 Koban et al Dec. 10, 1929 1,930,785 Winslette Oct. 17, 1933 2,011,692 Simpson Aug. 20, 1935 2,263,463 Johnston Nov. 18,1941 2,288,493 Smith June 30, 1942 2,299,148 Johnson Oct. 20, 1942 2,304,690 Herder Dec. 8, 1942 2,320,409 Cohen June 1, 1943 2,400,974 Berman May 28, 1946 

